Claude Peon's Bio

Familiarity:
I've put it through the wringer

Fit:
True to size

I've worn these shoes every day for over two years and they're still holding up. I've run long trails, hiked long hikes, used them as approach shoes for climbing, and even done some running on the road. The toe cap started peeling back a couple weeks ago- nothing a bit of shoe goo can't fix and the tread is almost gone at this point but honestly I could probably use these shoes for my everyday for a long time before they're totally destroyed. All in all best shoe purchase I've ever made.

Familiarity:
I've used it several times

Every harness I've had before this has just never fit quite right. I have a really small waist for my height and for whatever reason gear loops just don't line up right on single buckle harnesses for me. Everything lines up perfectly and I'm not frustrated trying to reach my arms all the way around for a piece of gear that's supposed to be just to my side.

Also Black Diamond's gear loops have a rectangular shape that helps your gear not get all smushed together. Doesn't really matter when your sport climbing but I've found it makes a big difference when your trad climbing and trying to grab the right piece and fighting the pump.

Unfortunately the dual buckles come with a drawback; sometimes the buckle strap finds a way under the padded portion causing an annoying rubbing up against my waist. Not such a big deal but it makes me want to take it off hiking from one area to the next. That could potentially be very annoying on a big wall but I have yet to test it out.

The bolt side biner feels flimsy. The dogbone is supposed to hold the wiregate side nice and tight but it stretches out pretty quickly so it can get pushed down and stuck on the gate. Not good. That said the wiregate is my favorite biner to clip into the rope side. Plus it's relatively light for its size.

I wouldn't buy them again. I'd just get the wiregate biners in the future.